Meeting Street's newest local music spot boasts diverse artist listing
Stretching only 20 feet across and an estimated 50 feet back from the entrance, Conundrum Music Hall, Columbia’s newest concert venue, is a tiny place.
It sits in a larger, empty plot of land that harkens back to the building’s history as a landscape nursery, though owner Tom Law and his wife renovated and restored the entire building before opening it to the public in June. The front is blacked out with heavy curtains, but a side porch area, decorated with rope lights, buzzes with the conversation of a few patrons relaxing in lawn chairs.
In a different setup from most venues, the door opens beside the stage, so upon first entrance the lights and audience are both in clear view.
The inside of Conundrum is perfectly simple. The stage sits a mere 8 inches off the ground and the one line of lighting traverses the ceiling above it. Three of the walls are gray-painted cinder block featuring garnet, black and yellow acoustic paneling, and the fourth is an authentic-feeling exposed brick.
A small sound table on a platform resides in the back and foldable chairs are scattered around the room. The concrete floors are extremely clean, and equipment for the other acts lines the walls. The focus here is clearly on the music and the connection between the audience and the artist.
But, if everything goes how Law plans, the artist will be the toughest part of the equation to pin down.
“This is where I came up with the name ‘Conundrum!’,” Law said. “There’s no easy way to describe what we bring. As bigSphinx Productions, I tend to bring avant-garde rock/jazz/classical music, but I’ve also brought the [Maharajah Flamenco Trio], and some singer/songwriters. And I’m encouraging other promoters to bring in shows, so we can maintain a diverse audience. So we’re getting all types of indie pop, metal and punk too.”
In the few months since its opening in June 2011, Conundrum Music Hall has had performers varying as widely as to include experimental percussionist Greg Stuart, hard-core band Dead in the Dirt and the South Carolina Philharmonic string quartet.
Volunteer bartender Jennifer Tague said she enjoyed Stuart’s relaxing music.
“We had a guy come in, and I was wondering what he would play,” Tague said. “He got a wood block and played it with a bow. I just wanted to get out my yoga mat and start meditating. It was really cool.”
Tague’s husband, Troy Tague, said the Philharmonic show was one of the venue’s most successessful as far as crowd size.
“That was the biggest show we had. It was packed, and that was really exciting,” Troy Tague said. “You’ll never know what you’ll hear. It’s always something different; basically unrestricted freedom of expression.”
Though the venue’s size could be seen as somewhat of a hindrance — a sign on the wall declares 99 people as its legal capacity — the modest space is one of its most agreed-upon strengths. Guest sound technician and local solo artist Paul Brazell saw the venue for the first time Tuesday night, when Scene SC put on a show including two Florida-native singer/songwriters, Lauris Vidal and Matt Butcher, and two local bands, Rejectioneers and Future Wives.
“It’s really down-to-earth here. I’ve played at bigger places and this is much more intimate,” Brazell said. “It’s a nice atmosphere to be in, and it’s even better when you’re surrounded by down-to-earth people and musicians.”
Scene SC founder David Stringer, who organized Tuesday’s show, also enjoyed Conundrum’s atmosphere.
“It’s definitely more laid-back,” Stringer said. “You can bring your own sound guy, and they’re really good about supporting the bands. Since they have volunteers, it’s not as corporate as other venues and more goes back to the bands.”
Those volunteers include the Tagues, who have known Law for 15 years and are helping him run the venue out of their own good will. Jennifer Tague works in the separated back room of the venue, serving up wine, beer and sodas and a varying collection of snacks from the bar, with tips as her only compensation. Troy Tague mans the door, taking up cover charges and checking IDs. Their commitment is a testament to Conundrum’s friendly charm, and their enthusiasm is one of the more pleasant facets of the venue.
Since the venue is located less than a mile away from Columbia music scene heavyweight New Brookland Tavern, there’s been plenty of speculation on whether or not Conundrum will be successful, especially in getting larger and more well-known bands to play there.
“Conundrum’s legal capacity is 99 people, so I really can’t get too big,” Law said. “I was really pleased to have Secret Chiefs 3 agree to come play next week. I’ve seen them at The Bowery in New York City as well as The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Both of those venues are at least five times bigger than Conundrum, and they were packed.”
Jessica Carroll, who was supporting her brother, Chris, and his band Rejectioneers, was hopeful for Conundrum’s future hosting larger bands.
“It doesn’t matter how big or small the venue is, as long as there’s a good crowd and it’s a fun time, the bands will come, because really, they just want to enjoy their own show,” Carroll said.